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19 May 2011

A Conversation with Bronwyn of My Moai

Every mother everywhere will be able to relate to the incredibly practical and stylish invention dreamed up and made a reality by Bronwyn of My Moai. A baby carrier that converts to a carseat/stroller liner to a front pack/sling to a hammock? Genius! And even better - made here in New Zealand with high quality fabrics. Let's learn more about the creative mind behind the product!...

Who is NZ Moai Ltd? Bronwyn Scott-Woods

What’s your “handmade groove ?”

I’m a mum with 2 kids, Keagan is 4 and Keira is 20 months. Being a stay at home mum I was in the position most mums are in and decided I needed a creative out let, a break away from the hours spent with children as the focus and a way to make little extra money, so I started by making quilts, I then made bassinets (similar to Cariboo), then due to time constraints and having a second child, I moved on to taggies, aplique dresses, knotted cuddle blankets and aromatherapy sock monkeys. I made stuffed monsters, aliens, porcupine pin cushions, ladybird cushions and my latest creation ‘duck’ who goes everywhere with my daughter and who I wish I hadn’t made white!

Anyway, back to the product at hand. . When Keira was 9 months old I moved her from a capsule to a standard car seat. I took Keagan to kindy and on the way home Keira fell asleep as we were turning into our street. So while I was sitting in the car wondering what to do with myself and thinking of all those things I could be doing upstairs I came up with an idea that had transformed into the MOAI - the name coming from Necessity...the Mother Of All Invention. MOAI is a fabric car seat cover with handles allowing you to move your sleeping child without waking them. It can be laid flat in the cot or hung as a hammock. It can also be worn as a sling or frontpack. It is handmade by my mother-in-law Patricia Scott-Woods who is a seamstress with 50 years experience. My design and idea, her sewing skills.

What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)

My favourite quote - shown on my website - and the bottom of each email

"Watching you sleep, watching you breathe, a peaceful end to another playful day.

More than a glowing sunset, more than the shining stars,

You, my little one, take my breath away."

-Crystal Dawn Perry

I love this quote. It is what every mother has felt and is so beautifully expressed.

My mother in law is one of my creative role model when it comes to sewing, my husband Brendan Scott-Woods when it comes to all things architectural and design related. My father,John Birch, who has always been amazingly talented with his hands, woodwork, photography, models, music - he is a music teacher, conductor and organist.

What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?

Any kind of sewing creation. I love handmade toys. Business I guess as well, marketing, ways to reach people.

If you could go to three free workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?

Jewelry making. Soft toy making. Woodwork.

How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments?

Its hard. Something always has to give, in my house its the housework I think :-) I have a family and small children so they are my priority . But without a creative outlet I feel a little lost so I find myself staying up until midnight each night so that the days can be spent with my kids.

What is your favourite creative screw-up?

Not sure really. I did make a “Why-Knots” knotted fleece dress that I thought was going to be a complete failure so didn’t focus much while doing the aplique. I love the dress now and Keira wears it all the time.

Kitchen table or studio?

Dining room table. Oh what I’d give for a studio!

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?

Mums around the world know about MOAI because it can make their lives so much easier! It has made mine. I get 2 hours uninterrupted work or play-with-Keagan time every day because of it. I wish to be able to help our family financially and not rely totally on my husband, to be able to pay my parents back for all their help and bring them to NZ for a visit because I miss them I wish to be able to go to my closest friends 40th birthday in Sept (on the same day as my birthday) . I know wishes should be so much less financial but sometimes its hard for them to be anything but. I guess mostly like everyone else I just wish for happiness, friendship and to be a good mum and wife.

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You can read more about My Moai, and see more of the Moai in action at their website.﻿

About Us..

New Zealand Handmade supports independent craftspeople designing and producing New Zealand made, quality goods.
We incorporate a diverse range of New Zealand designers, artisans, and craftspeople.
Our goal is to promote members handcrafted work both within New Zealand and Internationally and to create a vibrant creative community.